South Korean media praise coach Kim Sang Sik for setting a new milestone with the Vietnam national team

By defeating Cambodia 3-1, Vietnam not only advanced to the semifinals of the ASEAN Championship 2026 as group A leaders but also helped coach Kim Sang Sik continue making a strong mark in the history of Vietnamese football. Numerous South Korean media outlets simultaneously published this observation following the game on the night of August 7 at My Dinh Stadium.

Publications such as MyDaily, Star News, and Money Today all paid special attention to the achievements of the South Korean tactician. MyDaily ran the headline: "Vietnam under Kim Sang Sik sets a record of 22 unbeaten matches at the national team level! Defeats Cambodia 3-1, tops group to reach ASEAN Championship semifinals."

According to this newspaper, the Vietnam team under coach Kim Sang Sik secured a 3-1 win over Cambodia in the final group A match at My Dinh National Stadium (Hanoi). This result allowed the team to finish the group stage with 10 points from three wins and one draw, thereby topping the group and earning a spot in the semifinals.

Beyond achieving the goal of advancing past the group stage, Vietnam also extended its unbeaten run at the national team level to 22 consecutive matches, comprising 19 wins and 3 draws. South Korean media noted that this is the longest unbeaten streak in the history of the Vietnam national team.

All articles emphasized that under coach Kim Sang Sik, Vietnam has already surpassed the 18-match unbeaten benchmark set during the tenure of former coach Park Hang Seo. The current streak continues to grow, constantly setting new records for Vietnamese football.

Star News also hailed the win over Cambodia as proof of the stability of "Kim Sang Sik's team." The South Korean outlet remarked that Vietnam is steadily advancing on its journey to defend the ASEAN Championship title—a feat never before achieved in the country's football history.

Regarding match developments, South Korean media reported that Vietnam took an early advantage in the 18th minute. Nguyen Dinh Bac penetrated the box from the right flank and unleashed a sharp right-footed shot, putting the hosts ahead.

However, Kim Sang Sik's squad did not have an easy victory. After failing to add more goals for most of the match, the hosts repeatedly faced dangerous counterattacks from Cambodia.

In the 71st minute, Cambodia found the equalizer. From a long ball over the top, Iago Bento sprinted past the Vietnamese defense and fired a left-footed shot past the home goalkeeper, leveling the score.

Nevertheless, South Korean media praised Vietnam for showing composure at the right moment. In the 84th minute, Xuan Son dribbled down the left flank and executed a lob over the Cambodian goalkeeper. In an attempt to clear the ball, a Cambodian defender inadvertently knocked it into his own net, restoring Vietnam's lead.

As Cambodia pushed forward desperately in search of an equalizer, Vietnam exploited the space behind their defense. In the 89th minute, Nguyen Dinh Bac broke through one-on-one with the goalkeeper and delicately lobbed the ball with his right foot, completing his brace and sealing the 3-1 victory.

According to MyDaily, this win not only sent Vietnam to the semifinals as group A winners but also brought coach Kim Sang Sik and his players one step closer to successfully defending the ASEAN Championship title. Money Today also emphasized that this is a challenge even former coach Park Hang Seo could not overcome, as Vietnam had never won two consecutive ASEAN Championship titles before.

According to the schedule, Vietnam will face the runner-up of group B in the semifinals. The first leg will take place on August 16, followed by the return leg on August 19. With their consistent form and a 22-match unbeaten streak, South Korean media believe that under coach Kim Sang Sik, Vietnam has a solid foundation to continue pursuing the goal of retaining the regional crown.